Ancient India 3000 BC - 415 AD


Civilizations started in the Indus River Valley around 3000 BC. The Ganges River is a scared Hindu river and is the "River of Life". The tallest mountain in the world is Mt. Everest and it is in the Himalayan Mountains. The Hindu Kush Mountains are located NW of India and includes Khyber Pass which was the only way to pass the mountains. The Deccan Plateau is located in southern central India. There are Summer and Winter Monsoons which are seasonal winds. Summer Monsoon brings tons of rain.

The ancients twin capitals were Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. The Dravidians are descendants of the Harappans. They had planned cities, city blocks, and public buildings. The Aryans invaded India by passing through Khyber Pass. They had a rigid set of social classes the called the Caste System. They prohibited marriages between these classes. The classes included Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, Sudras, and at the bottom was the untouchables. There was 3000 subcastes.

Hinduism is a major religion in India. It deveoped from beliefs of the Aryans and Vedas. Brahman is the single supreme force and unites everything together. Atman is the soul and Karma is all the actions in this life that affected where we would be reborn in the next life. Buddhism is the 2nd major religion. Siddhartha Guatma was the first Buddha which means enlightened one. The Bo Tree is the Holy tree of Buddhism. The Three Baskets of Wisdom are the sacred texts of Buddhism. One of the Four Noble Truths is to attain Nirvana which is perfect peace. The Ajanta caves were painted of the life of Buddha. Dali Lama is the current spirtual leader of Buddhism.



Quote by Siddhartha Gautama: "Would that sickness, age, and death be for ever bound!"
Statue of Buddha
Statue of Buddha
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Statue of Buddha
Statue of Buddha


Depiction of Indians
Depiction of Indians


Map of India
Map of India

Buildings in India
Buildings in India

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5 Key Terms:1. Monsoon: seasonal wind2. Kilns: ovens used to bake bricks3. Tribes: group of related families who had a common ancestor4. Sanskrit: Aryan written language5. Dowry: gift of money or goods for daughter's marriage


Important People:1. Edmund Hillary: first to climb Mt. Everest2. Siddhartha Gautama: started buddhist religion; believed bad karma came from wanting things3. Ashoka: greatest ruler of Ancient India; third rule from Mauryan Dynasty4. Dali Lama: spiritual leader of Buddhism5. Darius: Persian King who conquered Indus Valley6. Alexander the Great: took over NW India


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Ancient India on Dipity.